Consultation on Telecommunication Links By Radio

DTI Press Notice - 22 November 1999


Patricia Hewitt, Minister of State for State for Small Business and E-Commerce, today announced plans to licence wireless telecommunication services to homes and businesses.

Ms. Hewitt said:

"Fixed Wireless Access offers an alternative method of connection to provide telecommunication services (which could include internet) to homes and businesses using radio rather than fixed copper wire. This can reduce costs for consumers and operators as it removes the need to 'fly' wire across country or dig up roads to provide fixed telecommunication links".

Ms Hewitt launched a consultation into radio frequencies at 3.4 GHz, known as Fixed Wireless Access. The frequencies were previously licensed to Ionica Plc but were returned to the Government as a result of the company going into receivership.

The purpose of the consultation is to determine:

- whether the frequencies should be used to solely provide voice services or to provide voice plus additional services; and

- whether operators should be licensed to provide services on a national, regional or sub-regional basis.

The closing date for the consultation is 20 December 1999.

Notes for editors

1. The consultation document is available at website http://www.radio.gov.uk or from Robert Emson, Radiocommunications
Agency, Public Telecommunication Networks, 11R/2E, Wyndham House, 189 Marsh Wall, London E14 9SX.


2. The Cambridge based company Ionica Plc was originally awarded a licence to operate a Fixed Wireless Access service using 3.4 GHz frequencies in 1993. Subsequently, a second licence to operate a service using 10 GHz frequencies was awarded in 1996. The company went into administration in October 1998.

3. A further consultation regarding the 10 GHz frequencies previously licensed to Ionica is expected to be released shortly.

4. The Radiocommunications Agency is an executive agency of the DTI, responsible for licensing civil use of the radio spectrum in
the UK.

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